It’s half term in the North East this week and if you haven’t got any plans with the kids let us fill your diary...

Spineless, Great North Museum

Spineless is the first major natural history exhibition at the museum since it reopened in 2009.

Created by the museum’s own team, Spineless showcases specimens from the museum’s extensive natural history collections not currently on display, with live specimens including the world’s heaviest stick insect and largest spider.

Running until Sunday

Pumpkin Carving at Baltic

Get creative with some pumpkin carving at the Baltic

Dress up in your best spooky costume and get carving creatively with a team of BALTIC artists.

Each child must have a ticket and adults are admitted free with a paying child. We recommend a minimum of 1 adult per 4 children.

Tickets must be booked online in advance.

The sessions are running today from 1 - 4.30pm visit the BALTIC website to book a time slot.

Halloween at Brocksbushes

There's plenty of fiendish fun on the menu at Brocksbushes

The Corbridge visitor spot has terrifying treats on the calendar for both children and adults.

They are asking ‘Are You A Wimp or A Warrior?’ as they invite you to navigate your way around the UK’s largest outdoor maze with no torch, no map and no help for a Halloween Spooktacular.

The challenge will take place nightly from October 24 - 31 from 6.30 to 9.30pm and is suitable for those 12 and over. Those of a nervous disposition are advised to steer well clear.

Tickets are £10 and can be bought from Brocksbushes farm shop or over the phone on 01434 633100.

If that sounds a tad too frightening you can opt to visit the Magic Pumpkin Patch with sessions at 10.15am, 11am and 11.45am from October 24 - 31.

Tickets are £5 from the farm shop, over the phone or the Brocksbushes website . The ticket entitles guests to half price entry to the daytime Maize Maze.

Sunderland Illuminations

Dated: 27/09/2015 The Sunderland Illuminations switch-on at Cliffe Park lighthouse, which was done by Lauren Laverne and festival favourites the Spark Drummers. NOT AVAILABLE FOR PRINT SALES #NorthNewsAndPictures/2daymedia

A staple of many people’s childhoods in the 80s and 90s, Sunderland Illuminations are back for 2015.

With over 70,000 people visiting in 2013 and even more in 2014, the numbers are growing as the Illuminations expand each year following a hiatus which left many people disappointed.

This year’s Illuminations features exciting new lighting installations plus some old favourites and some sparkling surprises including Alice in Wonderland, fairy dell, a sea of stars and state of the art projections.

Zombie Outbreak, Battle Zone Laser, Team Valley

Battle Zone Laser is a popular haunt the whole year through but it’s pulling out all the stops for Halloween with a spooky special.

How do you and the kids fancy pitting your wits against some zombies?

If that sounds like a challenge you’d be up for you need to book up for Zombie Outbreak which is running at Battle Zone until the end of the month.

Are you brave enough to save the world from flesh-eating monsters?

If you think you’ve got what it takes, book up by ringing 0191 482 2222.

Weeping Window Poppies, Woodhorn Museum

Sent in by Jayne Sanderson, Ashington, Northumberland

Woodhorn is honoured to be the first venue outside London to present Weeping Window by artist Paul Cummins and designer Tom Piper, from the extraordinary installation Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red which was created to mark the centenary of the First World War.

The installation was originally at the Tower of London from August to November 2014; 888,246 poppies were displayed, one to honour each death in the British and Colonial forces of the First World War.

Catacombs 4-D Ride, Centre for Life

Travel back in time to 19th century Paris where a mysterious darkness takes over the streets. Be the first to discover a haunted ride that explores the world famous cemetery that haunts the city and its inhabitants from beneath the ground.

You can expect to be blasted with wind, smoke and water, and you’ll even be able to smell the action in the $D motion ride- the question is are you brave enough?